UJAM, Music Creation Platform, Hosts Online Contest
Inviting People Worldwide to Rejam (Remix) Anthem
Listen to the anthem:
http://www.ujam.com/amnesty
(New York) — Hans Zimmer, the Academy and Grammy Award-winning composer, and film score collaborator Lorne Balfe have composed an anthem to salute Amnesty International’s 50th anniversary titled “One More Voice for Freedom,” to be released in the lead up to Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, and during Amnesty’s annual “Write for Rights” global events. As part of this celebration, Zimmer and UJAM are inviting people to rejam (remix) the anthem in a special online contest starting December 9.
“It was a privilege to create this piece of music for a cause which is so close to our hearts,” said Zimmer and Balfe, long-time supporters of human rights causes. “Our hope is that the anthem will inspire people to support Amnesty’s vision of a world where fundamental rights are protected for everyone. We should all join Amnesty in standing up for justice, freedom and human rights.”
Zimmer has scored more than 100 films, from socially conscious dramas like “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Rain Man” to blockbusters like “The Dark Knight” and “Inception” as well as the upcoming “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”
Thanks to UJAM’s unique technology, contest participants don’t need a studio – a laptop is fine. Contestants simply sign up online at http://www.ujam.com, listen to the anthem, and then begin creating their own remix or rejam. Some of the options include adding or recording vocals, lyrics, or instruments. Once a contestant submits their rejam, the online voting component begins where other users and fans will “like” the rejam with the goal of making it to the top 10 on the UJAM leader board.
The contest closes on February 5, 2012. The final top 10 rejam entries will be judged by Zimmer, Balfe and musician Pharrell Williams. The winner will be announced on Feb. 10, 2012. UJAM, is sponsoring a $1,000 cash prize, and other gifts, to the winner. The contest is open to all people from the U.S., Canada, UK and Germany, 18 years and older.
For more details, please visit: https://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/music-and-the-arts A version of the music was used as the score for the award-winning animated video, Standing Up for Freedom, released last May as one of Amnesty International’s anniversary year events. It was then re-orchestrated and Amnesty gratefully accepted the new music as a 50th anniversary anthem. The 2:05 minute anthem will also be featured in a second forthcoming public service announcement series for Amnesty International called “One More Voice for Freedom.” The project is being created by Citizen Group, the global social marketing, design and brand agency. Helen Garrett, special projects director at Amnesty International USA, said: “ “Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe have created a deeply moving composition that pays tribute to generations of human rights activists whose achievements have meant the difference between life and death, freedom and terror, justice or repression for people around the world. Amnesty International is grateful to Hans for donating this beautiful anthem. We encourage people around the world – whether musicians or novices – to contribute lyrics or vocals. We also urge people to take action in our Write for Rights program.”
“Write for Rights” is the world’s biggest human rights event, this year taking place Dec. 3-11. People all over the world send letters, emails and faxes to help free people who are unjustly imprisoned because of their beliefs, writings, gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity. Many are held without charge or trial and are at risk of torture or execution, or have been tortured. For more information or to participate, please visit: https://www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon
For 50 years, Amnesty International has successfully campaigned to free tens of thousands of these “prisoners of conscience” by pressuring governments through letters and emails written by activists.
Many well known prisoners were among those who Amnesty activists worked to free, including Liberia President and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who was an activist for peaceful change when her political activism put her at odds with the ruling powers and she was jailed in the mid-1980s.
The forthcoming public service announcements, “One More Voice for Freedom,” features contributions from new and established directors worldwide. Filming took place in more than 20 countries including Abu Dhabi, Australia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Kenya, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa and the United States. The film clips were largely contributed through a partnership with the International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers. With representation in more than 45 countries, it is the only global organization of film production company owners. Media Contacts:
For Amnesty International: Suzanne Trimel, 212-633-4150, [email protected]
For Hans Zimmer: Jeff Sanderson at Chasen & Company, 310-274-4400 [email protected]
For UJAM: Carolyn Prousky, (323) 656-8047, [email protected]
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
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For more information, please visit: www.amnestyusa.org.